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Issues regarding enterprise zone discussed The Lincoln City
Council heard a new request Tuesday night for enterprise zone
designation. Presenting the request were Steve McClure and Andrew
Hamilton, representing Elkhart Grain Elevator, along with Phil
Mahler, manager of the Lincoln and Logan County Enterprise Zone.
Mahler said that the elevator is requesting about 6 acres for the
construction of at least one new grain storage silo.
The enterprise zone provides two main benefits: sales tax
exemption and limited property tax exemption.
Sales tax relief is allowed on construction materials.
Property tax relief is extended for the portion of the property
tax increased due to improving a property. This allows businesses to
spend their money on improvements. Property increases related to the
improvements are waived for 10 years. The first five years the
increase is waived 100 percent, and 50 percent of the increase is
waived the last five years.
However, the benefit that this company would find of most value
is the relief it would get from the state's natural gas sales tax.
(Following this section, see comments from county
discussion.)
Mahler reassured the council there is still plenty of enterprise
zone available for future use. With this addition, there is still
approximately 3,000 acres left that can be designated. He also said
there are some areas that have been designated but may not be used,
such as Formosa at Illiopolis, and could then be recalled.
Mahler spoke about Monsanto and said that there is still a
possibility that they will come into Lincoln. He said that as they
were being shown properties in the area, they seemed to prefer the
acreage next door to Eaton Corp. on Lincoln Parkway.
The city will not act on adding Elkhart to the enterprise zone
until at least June 29, as city attorney Bill Bates is out of town
right now and has not seen any of the documents relating to the
request.
At the county finance committee meeting
Mahler, Hamilton and McClure had made their request to the Logan
County Board first, just before crossing the street to the city
meeting.
At the county board's finance committee meeting, finance chairman
Chuck Ruben observed that the relief from the natural gas tax would
definitely give Elkhart Grain Elevator a significant edge over other
grain businesses in the county and that many of the grain elevators
could qualify, as many are building or rebuilding every year.
Any business that taps directly into the pipeline, as some
manufacturers and grain elevators do, are big users, being taxed 5
percent on usage.
The gas tax relief would provide a huge benefit and could give
one grain elevator an unfair advantage over other elevators in the
area, Ruben said. He surmised that the enterprise zone could see a
lot of elevators asking and being added one at a time.
Hamilton agreed to contact all the elevators in unincorporated
areas that might qualify for enterprise zone to get their response
or see if they would be interested in applying.
Hamilton also pointed out that the intent of the enterprise zone
is to help businesses that are planning expansion and capital
improvements that would bring or retain jobs and increase property
values.
Incorporated areas must also meet unemployment rates to qualify
for the Lincoln and Logan County Enterprise Zone.
Elkhart Grain has plans to build a new silo that would require $1
million in construction materials.
Concern was expressed for industries that might be interested in
the natural gas tax relief as well.
The full county board will hear the request at Thursday's board
of whole at 7 p.m. at the Logan County Courthouse.
(This section was contributed by
Jan Youngquist.)
Sugar Creek Wind Farm application nearing completion
Mahler announced that he had with him a large three-ring binder
that was approximately half of the application for Logan County's
newest proposed wind farm.
The Sugar Creek Wind Farm is platted to go in west of Lincoln,
along Route 10 and extending to the Mason County line.
The farm will consist of a total of 16,000 acres and will support
approximately 100 turbines, ranging from 500 to 600 feet tall and
generating 2 to 3 megawatts of electricity per turbine.
Viper Coal Mine approved by DCEO
The process involved in adding to the enterprise zone is that
requests must first be approved by the regional planning commission,
then taken to the county and city simultaneously. Once all the local
governance approves the request, it is submitted to the Illinois
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for state approval.
Mahler said that the request for the Viper Coal Mine expansion at
Elkhart has been approved by DCEO, and the mine is now officially in
the enterprise zone.
A new fire station for Lincoln
Alderwoman Kathy Horn is calling a special combined meeting of
the committees on fire, water, emergency management, and building
and grounds on June 23 to discuss a new fire station for the city of
Lincoln.
Fire Chief Kent Hulett said there is an opportunity to apply for
a grant for a new fire station, but the deadline is July 10.
The grant does not include the purchase of property but will
cover construction. Hulett said there is money in this year's budget
for professional services, and he would like to contact Robert
Shattuck of J.H. Petty to do some initial drafting for the project.
He said he needs input from the council on what they want to do.
Should they build new, or renovate the existing firehouse?
Alderman Orville "Buzz" Busby said that he's been after a new
fire station for years and has always thought that the old Chevy
garage, currently owned and used by the city, would be an ideal
location to build a new facility and combine city police and fire.
Alderwoman Joni Tibbs said that she would prefer to close the
alley behind City Hall, acquire the property to the east and add on
to the current structure.
Busby and Hulett commented that because City Hall is a historic
structure, plans for construction there would have to include
maintaining the integrity of the original design, which could be
much more costly.
Hulett also said there was a concern about the location. The
Firefighters union is prepared to bring in a consultant free of
charge, to help determine the best location for a fire station.
Hulett said the council needed to keep in mind that there are
currently some pretty long response times to the west end of town.
If the city is going to continue to expand westward, the downtown
location may not be ideal.
City ready to take bids on this year's street overlay projects
Alderman Dean Henrichsmeyer said that it is time to start the
ball rolling on city overlay projects.
He wants approval to advertise for bids on July 7, have the bids
opened July 27 and awarded Aug. 3.
Segments to be included are North Hamilton, North Kickapoo, South
McLean and College Street.
Bicycle safety day scheduled
Police Chief Stuart Erlenbush said that the city police
department, in conjunction with the Lincoln Park District, will have
a bicycle safety training day June 27 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.,
with a rain date of July 11.
Erlenbush said that there was another bicycle-related incident
this week when a child rode out into the street and into the side of
a passing vehicle.
The child was not seriously injured but was taken to Abraham
Lincoln Memorial Hospital for examination.
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Sewer cap discovered after seven years
A Lincoln resident has recently discovered that the sewer
connection under her home has been capped since before she purchased
her home in 2002.
The end result is that raw sewage has been released into the
crawl space under the home for at least the past seven years.
Bob Tackett, city waste treatment manager, said that there has
been a great deal of research done on this subject, and no one can
identify when or why this sewer may have been capped.
Records for the residence indicate that the sewer bills have
always been paid in a timely manner, and there is nothing to
indicate that the city capped the sewer.
Busby, who introduced this subject to the council, said that he
didn't want anything put on the agenda just yet, because he wants
the city attorney to investigate the issue.
He added that he doesn't feel like the attorney will support the
idea of the city taking responsibility for the problem.
The elderly resident, being represented by a daughter, has asked
that the city pay the costs involved in cleaning up the sewage under
the home. It has also been questioned as to whether or not the
resident may be entitled to some kind of refund of sewer fees paid
over the past seven years as well.
Tibbs said that she heard from the resident in 2006 about an odor
in the home. Tibbs sought advice from David Kitzmiller, who was then
the waste treatment manager, and consequently told the resident to
occasionally run water in the spare bathroom, as leaving bathroom
tub and sink drains unused can sometimes result in a backup of sewer
gas.
Alderman David Wilmert said that he felt like the city needed to
"stand up and do what is right and pay the bill for the cleanup."
He said that though there is no record of who put the cap on the
sewer, one thing is known for sure: that it was not the resident.
Busby said he still wants to wait for advice from the city
attorney.
Hoinacki calls special meeting for June 24
Alderman Jeff Hoinacki said he has received an invitation from
Lincoln Correctional Center to the full council for a guided tour of
that facility.
He is therefore calling for a special meeting of the full council
for June 24 at 6 p.m. The council will meet at City Hall and travel
together to the facility.
Sidewalk committee meets
The sidewalk committee met for 20 minutes prior to the council
meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to draw up some cut and
dried rules on when and how to repair or replace brick sidewalks.
Alderman David Armbrust said that the result of the meeting is
that there is going to have to be a great deal more discussion on
the matter.
He said that the committee members have different ideas on how
this should be handled, and the initial meeting was not long enough
to make any real progress.
Additional committee meetings will be called in the future.
Application for federal staffing grant for fire department
Horn said that there is a federal grant that can be applied for
that would cover the payroll of three new firefighters. Hulett wants
to apply for the grant, if the council approves.
Hulett said that the grant would provide a partial payroll for
the firefighters for a term of five years. He said that the grant
was for new hires and would not support the firefighters who were
recently hired or future hires who are replacements for any who have
left.
Hulett added that if the city did get the award, there were some
strings attached, and the city would have the option of declining.
Busby said he was against using grant funds for payroll. He noted
that once the funding is gone, it is gone, but the payroll
requirement is still there and the city has to bear the burden.
Alderwoman Marty Neitzel added that all the departments are
short-handed, and if there was going to be hiring of additional
staff, it should uniform across all the departments.
Tibbs said that her problem with this was what would happen in
the future. Not knowing where the city economy will be five years
from now, will those who are hired have to be laid off, or will the
city be able to afford to keep them?
Hulett said there have been nine structure fires in the last two
months, and it has stretched the staffing, especially with some
people off long-term for injuries.
He says that being the only department in the county qualified to
deal with hazardous material emergencies, they provide help
throughout the county. However, he added that because of the
staffing issues, right now the city is getting more help than they
are giving.
Horn said she would like for the council to allow Hulett to apply
for the grant. If it is awarded, then they can decide whether or not
to accept it.
Wilmert looking for technology grants for the city
Alderman David Wilmert said that he has been inspired by all
those seeking grant funding for city projects, and to that end, he
is currently researching the availability of any stimulus grants
that would assist in upgrading the city's technological services,
such as broadband Internet.
He will keep the city posted on any progress he makes.
 Henrichsmeyer departs a week early
Dean Henrichsmeyer, Ward 1 alderman, tendered his resignation to
the city council in May, saying that he was resigning due to a
change in his professional status.
He had originally said that his last night of service to the city
would be June 15. However at the Tuesday night committee of the
whole, he said his tentative plans had changed and this would be his
last meeting.
Mayor Keith Snyder had a resolution drafted and read by the city
clerk, honoring Henrichsmeyer's term of service.
After it was read, Snyder said that while their time working
together had been short, it had also been good and that
Henrichsmeyer would be missed. Many of the council members agreed.
 Busby returns to the council
During the course of the evening, Snyder addressed Busby, saying
it was good to see him back in the council chamber.
Busby thanked the mayor and drew a laugh from the council when he
said, "Even on our worst day, I'd rather be here than where I have
been."
1859 records found in the attic
Tibbs said that during the cleanup of the attic she has found
some of the city's records dating back as far as 1859.
The books will be put into an environmentally controlled vault
and saved as a part of the city's history.
[By NILA SMITH] |
